Paris in December 2026: Weather, Christmas Markets, Crowds & Costs
By Ziv Shay · 2026-05-15 · attractionscout
Paris in December: The Quick Answer
Paris in December 2026 averages 3°C to 8°C (37–46°F), with 16 rainy days, only 8 hours of daylight, and around 20 active Christmas markets between November 21 and January 4. Hotel rates dip 25–35% versus summer (a 4-star averages €185/night vs €280 in July), but Christmas week (Dec 22–28) and New Year's Eve are exceptions — expect a 40–60% spike. The two best windows are December 1–18 (markets open, low crowds, lowest prices) and December 27–30 (post-Christmas calm before NYE chaos).
Paris Weather in December 2026: What to Actually Expect
December is Paris's coldest month alongside January. Based on 30-year Météo-France averages, here's what the conditions look like:
- Average high: 8°C (46°F)
- Average low: 3°C (37°F)
- Record low (last 10 years): -8°C (December 2022)
- Rainy days: 16 out of 31 (typically light drizzle, not downpours)
- Total rainfall: 60mm
- Snow probability: 12% chance of measurable snowfall, usually 1–2 days max
- Daylight hours: 8h 14m (sunrise ~8:40am, sunset ~4:55pm at winter solstice)
- Humidity: 86% average — the cold feels sharper than the thermometer suggests
Month-by-Month Crowd & Price Index
| Date Range | Crowd Level (1–10) | Hotel Price Index | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1–7 | 4 | €155–180 | Markets opening, lowest crowds |
| Dec 8–18 | 5 | €175–210 | Sweet spot: full atmosphere, manageable lines |
| Dec 19–24 | 8 | €260–320 | Pre-Christmas shopping, family travel |
| Dec 25–28 | 7 | €245–290 | Quiet streets, restaurants reopen Dec 26 |
| Dec 29–31 | 10 | €340–460 | NYE on Champs-Élysées |
Christmas Markets in Paris 2026: The Definitive List
Paris hosts roughly 20 Christmas markets in 2026, running from late November through early January. The largest and most worth your time:
Tuileries Garden Christmas Market
Open November 21, 2026 – January 4, 2027, this is Paris's flagship market — over 100 wooden chalets stretching from Place de la Concorde toward the Louvre. Free entry. Includes a 60-meter Ferris wheel (€15 adult), ice rink (€10 with skate rental), and a small but functional toboggan run. Mulled wine averages €5, tartiflette €13, marrons chauds €4. Open 11am–11:45pm daily.
Notre-Dame / Saint-Germain-des-Prés Market
Smaller, more intimate market on Place Saint-Sulpice. Roughly 30 stalls focused on regional French artisans — Provençal santons, Alsatian ornaments, savoyard cheese. Open December 6–24, 11am–8pm.
La Défense Christmas Village
The largest by stall count — about 350 chalets — but it's in the business district, less photogenic. Worth visiting if you want to actually shop rather than sightsee. Open mid-November through late December.
Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois Market (1st arr.)
New since 2024, directly opposite the Louvre. About 50 stalls with a stronger food focus — raclette stations, vin chaud bars, seafood from Brittany. Open December 4 – January 1.
Trocadéro Christmas Market
The view-over-substance pick. Twenty-odd chalets with the Eiffel Tower lit up directly behind them. Smaller selection but the photographs are unmatched, especially at the 6pm Eiffel Tower light show. Open December 11 – January 1.
Paris in December: What to Do Beyond the Markets
Eiffel Tower in Winter
December is paradoxically one of the best times to visit. Lift waits drop from 90+ minutes in summer to 20–30 minutes most weekdays. Standard summit ticket: €29.40 adult. Book the 4:30pm slot — you'll be at the top for sunset (~4:55pm) and stay through the hourly sparkle show at 5pm. Bring gloves; the summit feels 4–5°C colder than ground level due to wind.
Museums Without the Lines
The Louvre averages 22,000 visitors/day in December versus 45,000 in July. Tuesday closures still apply. The Musée d'Orsay's free first Sunday of the month falls on December 6, 2026 — go early (9:30am opening) to avoid Parisian families. The Orangerie's Monet Water Lilies sees genuinely small crowds in winter; you can sit alone with the murals on a Wednesday morning.
Galeries Lafayette Christmas Tree
The 20-meter illuminated tree under the stained-glass dome of the flagship Haussmann store is a legitimate Paris ritual — over 1 million visitors per season. Free entry. The 8th-floor rooftop terrace gives you an Opéra Garnier view at no cost (open until ~9pm in December).
Ice Skating Rinks
Free ice rinks pop up at Hôtel de Ville (mid-December through early January, skate rental €6) and Grand Palais — the latter charges €15 entry but you're skating under the historic glass nave.
Day Trips
Versailles is 35% less crowded in December and the gardens (still free) take on a stark beauty without the summer fountains. Champagne (Reims) is 45 minutes by TGV; producers like Taittinger run €25 cellar tours that include 2 tastings.
How Much Does a Paris December Trip Cost?
Using 2026 data, here's a realistic 4-day budget per person (excluding flights), assuming dec 8–18 mid-range travel:
- Hotel (mid-range 3-star, shared): €95/night × 4 = €380
- Métro pass (Navigo Easy + 20 trips): €40
- Breakfast (boulangerie): €6 × 4 = €24
- Lunch (bistro plat du jour): €18 × 4 = €72
- Dinner (sit-down, including wine): €38 × 4 = €152
- Christmas market food/drink: €15/day × 4 = €60
- Attractions (Eiffel + Louvre + 1 other): €70
- Coffee, snacks, contingency: €60
Total: ~€858 per person for 4 days, mid-range. Backpacker version (hostel + supermarkets + free museums on Sundays) drops to €420. Luxury (4-star + Michelin meal) climbs to €1,800+.
What to Pack for Paris in December
- Waterproof shoes — not boots; Paris cobbles are uneven and you'll walk 8–12km/day. Leather sneakers with rubber soles work better than fashion boots.
- Down jacket or wool coat rated to -5°C. Layering matters more than thickness — Métro stations and museums are heated to 20°C+.
- Compact umbrella — rain is light but frequent. Skip the hooded raincoat; locals don't wear them and you'll look like a target for pickpockets.
- Gloves and a scarf for evening market visits. Hat optional unless you're at viewpoints.
- Power bank — cold drains phone batteries 30–40% faster, and you'll be using maps constantly.
Avoiding the December Pitfalls
Christmas Day shutdown: Most restaurants, museums, and shops close December 25. Plan a Christmas Eve dinner reservation or risk eating hotel-room baguette. Major attractions like the Eiffel Tower stay open with reduced hours.
NYE Champs-Élysées chaos: The avenue is closed to traffic from 8pm Dec 31. There's no official fireworks display in 2026 — only an Arc de Triomphe light show. If crowds aren't your thing, watch from Trocadéro or Pont des Arts instead.
Métro strikes: December is historically the highest-strike month due to year-end union actions. Check the RATP app the morning you travel and have a Citymapper backup walking route ready.
Pickpockets near markets: Tuileries, Trocadéro, and Galeries Lafayette are the three highest-incident zones. Use a front-pocket wallet; never put your phone on a café table.
Best Time of Day for Each Activity
| Activity | Best Time | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower | 4:00–5:30pm | Sunset + sparkle show at 5pm |
| Christmas Markets | 5:00–8:00pm | Lights on, locals after work, magical atmosphere |
| Louvre | 9:00–11:00am | Lowest crowds before tour groups arrive |
| Galeries Lafayette tree | 10:00am or 8:00pm | Avoid 1–6pm shopping rush |
| Notre-Dame area | Early morning or after dark | Reopened in 2024; crowds are heavy 10am–4pm |
Comparing Paris with Other December European Destinations
If you're choosing between European city breaks this December, here's the quick read: Paris wins for sheer Christmas atmosphere and food; Rome is warmer (12°C average highs) but offers no Christmas market culture; Barcelona is the warmest at 14°C with smaller, less elaborate markets. For a sunnier-and-cheaper alternative, see our guides on Lisbon, Barcelona, or Rome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paris worth visiting in December 2026?
Yes — December is arguably the best month for atmosphere. You get Christmas markets, festive lighting on every avenue, 25–35% lower hotel prices outside Christmas week, and 50% shorter museum lines. The trade-off is cold (3–8°C), short daylight (8 hours), and 16 rainy days. If you prioritize sunshine and outdoor cafés, choose May or September instead.
When do Paris Christmas markets open in 2026?
The flagship Tuileries market opens November 21, 2026 and closes January 4, 2027. Most other markets follow a similar window: opening between late November and December 6, closing between December 24 and January 1. The Notre-Dame/Saint-Germain market is the shortest at just December 6–24.
Does it snow in Paris in December?
Rarely. Paris averages just 3 snowy days per year and there's only a 12% chance of measurable snowfall in any given December. Snow on Christmas Day specifically has happened only twice in the past 20 years (2010 and 2022). Expect rain, not snow.
Are restaurants open on Christmas Day in Paris?
Most close. About 80% of restaurants shut on December 25, with hotel restaurants and a small number of tourist-area cafés as exceptions. Make a Christmas Eve (Dec 24) reservation by mid-November — that's when Parisians do their big festive meal. December 26 sees normal reopenings.
Is the Eiffel Tower less crowded in December?
Significantly. December averages 18,000 daily visitors versus 38,000 in August. Lift waits drop from 90+ minutes to 20–30 minutes on most weekdays. The exception is December 23–31, when waits can match summer levels. Booking online for an early afternoon slot remains the best approach.
What should I avoid in Paris in December?
Three things: (1) New Year's Eve on Champs-Élysées if you dislike crowds — over 500,000 people pack the avenue. (2) Driving — Métro strikes are common but driving in winter Paris is worse. (3) Outdoor seating expectations — only a handful of cafés keep heated terraces open in December, and they cost 20–30% more than indoor seating.
Author: Ziv Shay · Last updated: December 2026 · Editorial standards: We update price and weather data quarterly using Météo-France, RATP, and direct venue verification.